Dengue fever sweeps Sri Lanka

An unprecedented dengue fever outbreak is spreading through Sri Lanka after flooding earlier this year. More than half of Sri Lanka’s districts were inundated by monsoon rains, leaving standing water as prime mosquito breeding areas.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that can cause severe pain and even death in severe cases. There is no known vaccination for the disease, so the best way to treat it is to avoid it altogether. With prevention as their goal, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in Sri Lanka (NCM Lanka) has begun a project to clean up trash in areas where mosquitoes breed.

Mosquitoes can turn even small amounts of standing water, such as in an empty food container, into breeding grounds. NCM Lanka is working to eliminate standing water by removing trash, implementing recycling efforts, and filling in low ground areas where water collects.

They are focusing on 11 communities where they run child development centers and have already developed relationships, predominately in areas where government cleanup efforts aren’t able to reach. In addition to promoting recycling, NCM Lanka staff are partnering with the government to promote cleanup efforts through the distribution of trashcans. They are also implementing educational programs on the importance of removing standing water and how to recognize signs of dengue. Through these efforts, approximately 750 families will be directly impacted.

How to help

Pray

Please pray for those who have lost loved ones and those who are caring for spouses, children, parents, and friends. Pray for those who are recovering from illness and for protection of lives, especially for vulnerable children and senior adults.

Give

Churches and individuals around the world can provide support through the Sri Lanka Dengue Fever Outbreak Fund. Donations will be used for tools and materials necessary for prevention efforts and education.

To send donations by mail:

In the U.S., make checks payable to "General Treasurer" and send them to:

About Us

The Church of the Nazarene is a Protestant Christian church in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition. Organized in 1908, the denomination is now home to about 2.5 million members worshipping in more than 30,000 local congregations in 162 world areas.